Congress

Future of Music Coalition submitted the following written testimony in the House Subcommitee on the Courts, Intellectual Property and the Internet’s hearing on “The Role of Voluntary Agreements in the US Intellectual Property System.”

FMC respects the process of multi-stakeholder engagement to identify shared solutions to persistent issues around protecting copyright and other forms of intellectual property online, but stresses that oversight, transparency and the inclusion of the independent music sector in the process is crucial to the success of these initiatives.

–-

House Subcommittee on the Courts,Intellectual Property and the Internet2138 Rayburn Office BuildingWashington, DC 20515read more

Yesterday on Capitol Hill, the House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology rounded up some music industry bigwigs including Cary Sherman (CEO of the Recording Industry Association of America); Jeff Smulyan (CEO of Ennis Communications); Steven Newberry (CEO of Commonwealth Broadcasting Corp.); Tim Westergren (Pandora founder); Christopher Gutttman-McCabe (Vice President of CTIA Wireless); Gary Shapiro (President and CEO of the Consumer Electronics Association); and a single artist: Ben Allison, a New York-based jazz bassist. The panel, the title of which the recently deceased Ray Bradbury might even admire — “The Future of Audio” — featured a broad discussion that touched upon music, mobile technology, radio signals, and last, but hopefully not least, artist compensation.

One thing that is clear from the massive blowback is that the “business-as-usual” approach to policymaking is unlikely to produce results (at least not the results desired and expected by major industry trade groups). Unfortunately, some folks seem to be missing that point entirely, and are clinging to the idea that the SOPA/PIPA kerfluffle was simply Big Content vs. Silicon Valley.

The groundswell against SOPA now includes many corners of the music industry, including some very high-profile artists. After our initial report pointing to heavy SOPA support from a number of large music organizations, the DC-based Future of Music Coalition (FOMC) contacted Digital Music News to reaffirm their firm opposition to the bill. They also pointed to resistance from music organizations that include the Association of Performing Arts Presenters, Chorus America, Dance/USA, Fractured Atlas, National Alliance for Media Art and Culture, National Alliance for Musical Theatre, National Performance Network, OPERA America, and the Theatre Communications Group…

Although the Stop Online Piracy Act and Protect IP Act have been shelved, their staunchest congressional supporters are still criticizing the opposition, claiming the bills would save thousands of jobs. However, these claims look like little more than empty rhetoric.

The entertainment industry — profit-hungry and change-averse — is already its own worst enemy. Meanwhile, the Internet economy that bills such as SOPA and PIPA threaten to derail is a potential job creator the likes of which Hollywood could ever be… read more

The following statement is attributed to Casey Rae-Hunter, Deputy Director for Future of Music Coalition:

“Future of Music Coalition is pleased that Congress has hit pause on controversial policy proposals to address the issue of intellectual property (IP) infringement. It is crucial that lawmakers recognize and understand the legitimate concerns of a broad array of stakeholders — including thousands of copyright owners — who have reservations about certain provisions in the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and PROTECT-IP (PIPA). read more

The following statement is attributed to Casey Rae-Hunter, Deputy Director for Future of Music Coalition:

“Future of Music Coalition is pleased that Congress has hit pause on controversial policy proposals to address the issue of intellectual property (IP) infringement. It is crucial that lawmakers recognize and understand the legitimate concerns of a broad array of stakeholders — including thousands of copyright owners — who have reservations about certain provisions in the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and PROTECT-IP (PIPA). read more

While SOPA and PIPA have the support of every major record label, the unions representing performing artists, and the organizations that manage licensing for musicians, some performers, writers and artists have stood up against the bills, including MGMT, OK Go, Trent Reznor and the members of OPERA America. (And Neil Gaiman, too!)…

Separately, a coalition including the Association of Performing Arts Presenters, the National Alliance for Media Art and Culture, National Alliance for Musical Theatre, OPERA America, and the Theatre Communications Group, sent its own letter to the Senate, expressing similar concerns…. read more

Three of the Internet’s most popular destinations—Google, Wikipedia, and Craigslist—launched an audacious experiment in political activism this evening by urging their users to protest a pair of Hollywood-backed copyright laws.read more